Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Malabar, Florida

At a glance

Zoning

Town of Malabar zoning districts under its Land Development Code¹

Building permits

Town Building Department; accessory structures need a permit from the Building Official⁵²

Septic

Brevard County septic permitting applies where central sewer is not available³

RV living

Prohibited on residential lots⁴

Minimum home size

1,200 to 1,800 sq ft of living area, depending on the district⁶⁷

Minimum lot (RR-65)

65,340 sq ft⁸

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 16, 2026.

Does Malabar, Florida have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Malabar applies its own zoning districts and dimensional standards, set out in its Land Development Code¹. The town's table also covers multifamily, commercial, industrial and other districts besides the residential ones⁹.

Dimensions differ by district. In RR-65 Rural Residential, the minimum lot is 65,340 sq ft, 150 ft wide and 250 ft deep⁸. RS-21 requires 21,780 sq ft¹⁰, RS-15 requires 15,000 sq ft¹¹, and RS-10 requires 10,000 sq ft¹².

Living in an RV is not an option on a residential lot: Malabar's code bars using major recreational equipment for living or sleeping on a residential lot or anywhere not approved for it⁴. We could not confirm any rule for tiny homes or accessory dwelling units in town, so ask Town Hall before planning either¹³.

What are the minimum home size, setbacks and height limits in Malabar?

Minimum living area is 1,500 sq ft in RR-65¹⁴, 1,800 sq ft in RS-21⁷, 1,500 sq ft in RS-15¹⁵ and 1,200 sq ft in RS-10⁶.

In RR-65, setbacks are 40 ft front, 30 ft rear and 30 ft on the side¹⁶. RS-21 requires 35 ft front, 20 ft rear and 15 ft on the side¹⁷; RS-15 requires 30 ft front, 20 ft rear and 15 ft on the side¹⁸; RS-10 requires 25 ft front, 20 ft rear and 10 ft on the side¹⁹.

Buildings in RR-65 top out at 35 ft and 3 stories²⁰. Maximum impervious surface is 20 percent in RR-65²¹ and 50 percent in RS-10²².

Do you need a building permit in Malabar, and who issues it?

Inside Malabar, no accessory structure may be built without a permit from the town's Building Official⁵. Accessory uses the code does not clearly cover go to the Planning and Zoning Board and Town Council⁵.

The Town of Malabar Building Department takes permit applications through its online permitting portal, and emailed or paper applications are not accepted unless the town says otherwise². We could not confirm the town's permit fees, its owner-builder rules or its full house-permit process, so call the Building Department at Town Hall before you start².

These are the town's rules. Brevard County's building permit rules cover unincorporated land, not land inside Malabar; see the Brevard County page for that.

How do septic permits work inside Malabar?

Septic permits for Malabar addresses come through Brevard County, not the town. The town's code says development in areas without central water and wastewater must comply with Brevard County's septic permitting requirements²³.

In Brevard County, the Florida Department of Health's Environmental Health Services office issues septic (OSTDS) construction permits and schedules the inspections²⁴. Florida law requires a permit for building, installing, modifying, abandoning or repairing a septic system²⁵.

Soils matter here: none of Brevard County's soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field²⁶. Conventional drain fields rate poorly, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered or mound system.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Malabar?

An RV, no. Malabar prohibits living, sleeping or housekeeping in a recreational vehicle parked on a residential lot, and in any location not approved for such use⁴. A temporary construction trailer is allowed under a temporary zoning permit with a building permit, and must be removed within 10 days after completion⁴.

For tiny homes, we could not confirm any town provision. Call Town Hall and ask which district would allow one and under what permit¹³.

Building a home in Malabar: the steps, in order

1. Confirm the lot's zoning district, minimum lot size and setbacks with Town Hall¹³ and the town's size and dimension table¹.
2. Check whether the lot has central water and sewer. If not, apply for septic approval through the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County²³²⁴.
3. If you need a well, a contractor applies through the Department of Health well program²⁷.
4. Apply for the building permit through the town's online portal².
5. Schedule inspections as the Building Department directs; we could not confirm the town's inspection process².

What stays with Brevard County, and what to check before you buy in Malabar

Septic permits and well permits for Malabar properties stay with the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County³²⁷. The county's building and zoning offices serve unincorporated land only; inside Malabar, use the town.

Before buying, ask Town Hall which district the lot is in, whether a platted lot predates the code (lots recorded before Ordinance 7-1-76 may be grandfathered)⁸, and whether sewer is available. Brevard County's typical home value is $344,481²⁸ and its effective property tax rate is 0.7 percent²⁹.

Watch-outs

• Malabar's code allows accessory buildings only outside required yards, so check setbacks before placing a shed or barn¹⁶.
• Septic permitting depends on whether central water and sewer reach the lot; confirm with the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County³.
• We could not confirm the town's building permit fees, owner-builder rules, tiny-home or accessory-dwelling rules; ask the Building Department and Town Hall².

Sources

1. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
2. Town of Malabar Building Department (townofmalabar.org)
3. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
4. Malabar LDC Section 1-5.15 Parking, storage or use of major recreational equipment (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
5. Malabar LDC Section 1-5.6 Accessory buildings (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
6. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
7. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
8. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
9. Malabar LDC Section 1-5.6 Accessory buildings (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
10. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
11. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
12. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
13. Town of Malabar Town Hall (zoning and Planning & Zoning Board) (townofmalabar.org)
14. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
15. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
16. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
17. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
18. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
19. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
20. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
21. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
22. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
23. Malabar LDC Section 1-3.3 Size and dimension criteria (Town of Malabar), quoted and re-checked
24. Florida Department of Health in Brevard County – Environmental Health Services (brevard.floridahealth.gov)
25. OSTDS Construction Application (Florida statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
26. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
27. Florida Department of Health in Brevard County – Well Construction (brevard.floridahealth.gov)
28. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
29. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 16, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.